Disclaimer: All standard disclaimer apply.
Never in my life have I been more sureSo come on up to me and close the door
Nobody's made me feel this way before
You're everything I wanted and more...
Balisong, RivermayaA/N: We know it's been like forever since we last updated. Hope we could make it up to you guys with this chapter.
Notes for previous chapters: We have received positive and crazy responses from Tsunade's words to Iruka in chapter 1. We're glad we made you guys laugh, and hope this one would too. (:
- - - - - -
Sasuke's mood is decomposing.
The dinner last night had not gone well, thanks to that damned Hyuuga, who was injured and was so damn lucky to have Sakura oversee him with special treatment. It had taken all willpower Sasuke possessed to not break Neji's other hand. On his second thought, the notion could make Sakura mad at him.
And that's not what he wants.
But it was bloody well hard to concentrate on the fact that Sakura was just the personal physician of that Hyuuga. She was staying with him, for heaven's sakes! Sasuke could not help but feel jealous and frustrated, since now he realizes that Sakura is almost no longer a member of team seven, as she is always on the hospital, tending to the sick and injured rather than training with Naruto, Kakashi and the copy-cat Sai.
Sai. Just the name itself brings a deep frown into Sasuke's face. That weird smiling guy, who was shamelessly and frequently mentioning Naruto's dick, or according to the guy, the lack of it, was actually close to Sakura. And how he calls the beautiful Sakura a hag didn't make it any better. And that painter was the one who had fetched Sakura from the Hyuuga compound, then accompanied her to the hospital.
Sasuke had planned to do all that!
Damn it. He had not been able to talk to Sakura or even gaze at her longer or anything last night, and now, he hadn't been able to even just see her in the morning! Someone must really be mad at him up above.
Then at the house of his foster family, his crazy pretend mother was pestering him all night long. She was close to placing him on a wooden crib, and giving him milk from a feeding bottle. But he was thankful that she had just settled with reading her a nursery book. Kami, it was supposed to make him sleep, but the way she had affectionately relayed the stories to him made his nightmares come alive.
And this morning at breakfast, Kurenai had wanted him to call Kakashi dad. Holy hell, he hadn't even called Kakashi sensei even when they were Genins! Oh, the couple desperately needs a real child.
And now, he was forced to subject to the most preposterous, most degrading, would-rather-prefer-death-training perceived in the history of the Shinobi world.
The sight of the two identical Taijutsu masters he could barely tolerate, and for him this is devastation. He wouldn't picture himself training with those two, and if he were a girl he would be screeching like mad.
He tried to concentrate on the idea that with the help of those two, his already above average Taijutsu skills would improve.
But it didn't work.
Naruto had been trying to cool him down since dinner last night, but his blood is still boiling. The blond just hoped that the Uchiha wouldn't be paired off with Tenten in sparing today, because Sasuke might leash out on the poor girl.
"Oy, Sasuke-teme, if ever you get paired with Tenten, please, PLEASE be easy on her. Or ask for another sparring partner."
That said, the Uchiha's eyes gleamed. The way his lips slightly turned was scaring Naruto. It was like Sasuke suddenly had a bulb light up above his head, and by the looks of it, maybe he did.
The blonde was struck with horror as he remembered the other members of team Gai.
Neji. Lee.
Maybe it wasn't a good idea that he reminded Sasuke to ask Gai to pair him up with either of those two?
Then the main reason why his best friend is growling like a tiger in the wild came to his mind.
Sakura.
It was all because of her. If Sasuke were not smitten with her, he would not return. If he were not smitten with her, he wouldn't be given probation. If he were not smitten with her...he wouldn't be jealous, and...
...He wouldn't have this demonic idea of beating Neji and Lee up through sparring.
Naruto was worried now. Sasuke might accidentally kill one of them, or more possible, Neji, since he was sure that the Uchiha would surely lose control the moment his eyes meet the Hyuuga's. After all, Neji was the one who had Sakura's undivided attention the previous dinner night.
Envy had always been associated with Sasuke. He was envious of his brother, he was envious of Naruto...
And what did envy drive him to do?
Envy made him hate his brother. Envy made him almost kill Naruto. The envy Sasuke felt before for Itachi and Naruto could never compare to the envy he now feels over Neji. And this one is dangerous, much, much more dangerous, because it comes along with another feeling.
Possession.
It is very well known that Uchiha Sasuke is spoiled. If he wants something, he will never stop until he gets it, eliminating every single obstacle on his way. And he had long since ingrained in his head that Sakura was his, and only his. And if the only way for him to clear the path towards Sakura's affection is to surface his mutual albeit platonic rivalry with Hyuuga Neji...
Then so be it.
- - - - - -
Tenten was supposed to be worried for her teammate, since everyone present on the fields can feel Sasuke's murderous aura that is filled with killing intent, but she just watched, as how effectively Neji had served as the perfect provocation for the Uchiha.
She was amused. It was not only because of the fact that Sasuke was going to be training with them, but also due to the obvious rage he was trying to conceal to no avail. Seems like their plan last night had worked. His anger was directly pointed to Neji, but the Hyuuga wasn't fazed even a wee bit.
Instead, Neji was smirking at him with no small amount of gloating. And it wasn't making the situation any better. It was like he was urging Sasuke to attack him.
And that was exactly what happened.
The blur that had past Tenten and the clanking sound of Kodachis meeting halfway had signaled the start of the sparring session scheduled this morning.
No one except the Hyuuga had seen Sasuke move. And at the split second that Sasuke's weapon approached Neji at blinding speed, the Hyuuga unsheathed his own kodachi and blocked the Uchiha's attack from above.
They exchanged smirks through the view of their crossed weapons, and Sasuke pulled away and stood on equal grounds with Neji. As they glared and examined each other, both held their weapons down.
Then they dropped their swords and disappeared, chakra gathered in hands.
"Everyone! Let us watch the re-unfolding of a very beautiful and youthful rivalry!" Gai exclaimed, then turned to Kakashi, "Doesn't it remind you of us, my dear eternal rival?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say..."
Then flashes of red and white appeared on the center of the training ground. Then again, and again. It was like light clashing with another. Sasuke and Neji were moving so fast that Kakashi had to use his Sharingan in order to see.
"I can't keep up. They're too fast..." Tenten murmured.
"..." Naruto can only stare.
After more clashing of red and white, a loud boom was heard, and a crater suddenly was created on the ground. The surface that Kakashi and the others were standing on had shook with the intensity of the crash.
There, on the center of the crater, was Sasuke on one knee and Neji on his back holding a kunai against his throat.
The Hyuuga leaned down to whisper, "Give up, Uchiha?"
"To you?" Sasuke smirked. "Never."
Sasuke elbowed Neji's abdomen and used his other hand to grab the back of his neck to throw Neji above his shoulders. The Hyuuga was startled, but he landed flat on his feet and quickly did a series of one-hand back flips to evade the two Fuuma Shuriken Sasuke have thrown.
Naruto didn't expect that Sasuke would use that large shuriken. He wants to kill Neji! "What the hell, Sasuke-teme! It's just a spar! Don't use that goddamn thing!"
The blonde was ignored, and again, Sasuke threw the windmills. He missed yet again as the Hyuuga jumped and threw a barrage of kunai in Sasuke's direction, too fast that some of it the Uchiha had barely dodged.
Neji stood on one of the windmills, and crossed his arms above his chest. He waited for Sasuke, who was pulling out the kunais embedded on his shoulder and leg, to attack once again.
The Hyuuga all but sneered, "I can't believe I actually thought you could do better."
That said, Sasuke's tomoe spun wildly and glared up at the Hyuuga standing on top of his weapons. He growled and his Sharingan blazed even more. He hates being taunted—especially by this particular Hyuuga.
Then Sasuke disappeared. Neji jumped off from the weapon he was standing on and watched as the tree he had leaned on some seconds ago was shattered into dust. There, where the tree was formerly standing, was Sasuke with a chakra-surrounded arm stretched in front of him.
Sasuke turned to face Neji, smirking all the while. "Didn't want to suffer the same fate as that tree?"
Neji smirked back, and the veins surrounding his eyes had become much more protruding. "No. Maybe you do?"
Then they both disappeared. And the sound of hurling wind and chirping of numerous birds could be heard.
Naruto was alarmed.
- - - - - -
Sakura is in a divine mood.
It was confirmed. Uchiha Sasuke is harboring feelings for her, and she's loving it. Only a fool would not notice how jealous he was when Sakura was openly flirting with Neji as though the other members of team seven weren't there. It was a surprise that the conservative Hyuuga would agree to such acts in public, or maybe he was just being plain sadistic—enjoying the fact that Sasuke is annoyed and pissed beyond measure.
She was actually resisting an urge to giggle last night, with Sasuke breaking every pair of chopsticks provided for him, it made her feel all giddy with the thought of her only love unable to control his supposed-to-be kept emotions. And Inner Sakura couldn't be any gladder, it was real this time, Sakura is slowly getting to Uchiha Sasuke's head.
If only she knew that Sasuke is going nuts because of her...
But it was, in a way, disappointing that Sasuke didn't voice out his jealous thoughts—he doesn't talk much in the first place—it could've been more dramatic if he had, and she could have feigned surprise if ever he did express his very obvious attraction to her. Naruto and Kakashi were expecting Sasuke to just clobber the Hyuuga—Sakura hoped he would, she really did—and start a jealous fit, but alas, he didn't.
It was stupid, actually, for Sasuke to still keep it a secret, since it was Naruto himself who had an inkling of it first—who would've thought that Naruto would notice?—and it is even more stupid if a man would not take notice of the so-called epitome of aestheticism, but lacking in height, that is Haruno Sakura.
And it is even more stupid to not tell if the object of one's affection knows it already.
Sakura might have at least toned her excitement down, as it was heightening up Shizune's curiosity. Shizune had been observing the younger medic the moment the roseate woman entered the clinic doors. It was very obvious that the girl's mood was in cloud nine, as she was humming whilst taking her stethoscope and physician's robe, contrary to what she used to do whenever Shizune drops by the hospital to assist.
Sakura was oftentimes moody at this time of the morning, and it was quite the surprise to see her with all smiles and cheery attitude.
Shizune started to wonder if it had been because of Sasuke.
"Sakura-chan," Shizune started with a curious eyebrow, "You're ecstatic. What's been up?"
Sakura turned to her and smiled brightly. "Shizune-nee-chan, I'm so glad to be the Hyuugas' official clan medic,"
Shizune's other eyebrow rose in surprise. Sakura was reacting otherwise when she was assigned that job several months ago. "Oh? And why, may I ask, are you so happy about your task?"
Sakura told her all about yesterday afternoon, and the dinner that followed. It was highly unlikely, but there it was, Uchiha Sasuke getting so worked up with jealousy. Shizune can only smile at her, and was actually starting to form thoughts in her mind likewise as Tenten did yesterday when the weapons mistress plotted the dinner with Neji.
Shizune could not wait to get back to the Hokage tower to inform their shishou. Surely, Tsunade would be interested to know all about this blossoming romance between the sole Uchiha and her favorite apprentice.
A knock on the clinic door interrupted their conversation and Shun—the nurse Naruto attacked yesterday—entered, with a new set of clipboard in his arms.
"Good morning, Sakura-san, Shizune-san," He bowed, and gave the clipboard to Sakura, "The patients refused to be healed by any medic other than yourself, ma'am. We haven't done any immediate aid yet, as they wouldn't let us near them. But we placed there partially the injuries Tenten-san said they're having. They requested for you, specifically."
Sakura read the names of the patients and blinked with worry. She hoped that Sasuke and Neji hadn't fought because of her, which was the only likely reason why they should, other than they might have been just unintentionally paired in sparring as Sasuke was placed to train with Gai and his team.
Shizune took the clipboard from Sakura's hand as the three of them walked out the door and into the room where the two prodigies were resting. By what's written, the injuries could not be considered training wounds.
Sparred, eh? Could've fooled me.
- - - - - -
"I'd rather die."
It had been expected that Sasuke would at one time ask for his own death. The torment of Itachi's Tsukiyomi could never compare to the torture he was currently being subjected to. The probation was no longer an issue. The management of his custody was now just a thorn on his palm.
But THIS?!
According to Gai, the efficiency of a ninja lies in the way one can freely execute his moves without feeling discomfort or anything of the sort. And since Sasuke was assigned to do tasks that represents the use of Shinobis outside battle—D-ranks, and it could serve as a way for Sasuke to be accepted by the citizens again, Gai had said that Sasuke should be seen in the most presentable way possible.
Lee had had second to that, saying that constriction of movements wouldn't do ninja any good, and they both suggested to Sasuke to sport the most ridiculous thing that had ever been invented in their world.
The Ultra Green Spandex Suit™.
Oh, and not just the ordinary Green Suit, this one is specially made for Sasuke, because it even has an embroidery of the Uchiha emblem at the back!
Talk about personalized.
Kakashi, Naruto and Tenten had all failed to stop their urges of snorting as they had images of Sasuke clad in that very offending outfit. Naruto's snort turned into a full laugh, Tenten following suit. Naruto was laughing so hard that he had choked on his saliva.
Sasuke in green could be considered the most hilarious mental image ever perceived.
"I think it'd suit you, Uchiha." Said Neji who was currently having his torso bandaged by Tenten, who accidentally pulled harder due to laughter, making the Hyuuga flinch a bit.
Neji and Sasuke's spar had been a draw, since both had ran out of sufficient chakra, in which Sasuke had disagreed, saying that he was the one standing last.
But Kakashi and Gai had stuck in the decision that the fight was a draw, reasoning out that though Neji fell first, Sasuke had been depleted of chakra before Neji did. And deciding by the injuries both had acquired, Sasuke had the most, with almost half of his chakra pathways blocked.
Chidori hadn't helped him that much against Neji. Damn. But how the hell was Orochimaru easier to kill? He didn't even use Chidori with that snake. And Neji's right hand was injured, mustn't we forget that.
As to Neji's remark, Sasuke glared at him. "Are you fucking kidding me?" he sat up straight and moved so abruptly that the wounds on his shoulder and thigh bled through the bandage.
"I don't joke," Neji answered, still an amused smirk on his face. "Besides, a wardrobe change is crucial if you're wooing a woman."
Laughter erupted from Tenten and Naruto as they pictured out Sasuke wearing that suit whilst talking to Sakura the same way Lee does when the Gai-clone spots the cherry blossom around.
Tenten couldn't help but add in between laughs, "Are you going to grow your eyebrows thick too, Sasuke?"
He glared at her and snarled. Another thing that Sasuke hates is being the center of ridicule. He was used to being the one ridiculing others, and his pride wouldn't let him stoop otherwise.
If only he could move his arms, he would've strangled this annoying woman and that irritating Hyuuga and tie them up a tree, but alas, he couldn't. His legs and arms were the ones temporarily unmoving, as he sat there leaning on the tree, torso badly bruised, one part of his shoulder and left thigh bleeding through the fabric of the bandage and was shirtless.
Neji and him both were.
Their clothing might have scorched with the intensity of the chakra they have used with their techniques. Chidori and Jyuuken had repelled each other, not entirely injuring the two, but rather destroyed almost all of what they have used as armors. Their pants are still on, but were ripped in some parts, exposing parts of their hipbones that would send lurking fangirls into the other side of sanity.
It was a wonder that Tenten was in the least affected by this, or she was just too busy laughing along with Naruto to notice.
But she did notice. And the moment she and Naruto calmed down from their laughing fit, the wheels in her brain once again turned. Seems like Sasuke is still running out on luck.
Neji must've rubbed off on Tenten somehow, as she was forming sadistic thoughts in her mind. She knew that Neji always bring spare clothing with him, may it be training or missions. And his current situation now is not much of a problem.
But Sasuke is another story.
She grinned with mirth, and pulled Naruto to whisper something in his ear and the blond grinned in the same way she did and promptly went to Kakashi to whisper what Tenten told him.
Kakashi closed his book immediately after Naruto finished his sentence. The man might have been grinning too, but of course it would not be seen, and the three of them stared at Sasuke. Gai and Lee did the same after the only woman in the group told them what she was thinking. Neji need not be told, he would most definitely get what they're planning by merely observing.
The masked man started, "Let's go and get you guys healed," his eyes stopped at Sasuke and finished, "But we'll have to do something about that clothing of yours, Sasuke,"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. The way they were looking at him is suspicious. "What the hell for?"
"Sakura-chan would be the one healing you both," Tenten said, her smile was slightly unnerving. "We wouldn't want her to see you in such state of undress, now would we?"
"Yeah, Tenten-chan's right, Sasuke-teme," Naruto grinned and nodded to Kakashi.
Kakashi and Naruto stepped closer to him. Sasuke cursed inwardly as he assessed his current situation. His limbs he cannot move, meaning he can't push them away if they tried anything—but even if he can move them, he is injured and depleted of chakra to counterattack whatever they may do.
He cursed again, vocally this time and settled in glaring daggers at his teammates. But they were unfazed, and continued walking up to him, stopped, and both crouched in front of him.
Sasuke now knew what they're up to, as seeing Tenten approach them with the suit in her hands.
Shit.
The last thing he saw and heard before his world darkened was an amused Neji.
"Don't worry, Uchiha. Green is Sakura's favorite color."
